skill building: mating angles

[duburban]

i'd like to get some information on the approaches you guys use to match inside and outside angles when running interior trim. i work with a few guys and have seen how they do it and it usually includes a few trips to the saw.

for example, baseboard outside corner. lets assume the floor isn't flat or square to the corner giving us a compound cut. this is where i want to do better as the top of my cuts are always tight but getting the entire joint perfect is very difficult without running to the saw 10 times.

my first step would be to take the milled stock and run it past the outside corner, mark the back side and cut a 45 angle on that line. i'm already at a disadvantage because most saws don't cut past 45 if you have to cut on the flat.

i do not own an angle finder. i am starting to feel that buying an angle finder digital or otherwise will be the answer to nailing the angle on the first cut.

tips for mating angles would be appreciated. feel free to point me to some required reading aswell, is this in katz's books?

 

[GhostFist]

I like to use as few numbers as possible when doing trim, and I'm a guy who actually enjoys math. A good sliding t-bevel will help you get most of your angles. For miters you'll have to split the angle of course which is easily done with a compass and straight edge but a little bit of a process if you have a lot to do. I own a starrett angle finder which works well in some situations but crap in others. It will give you a reading for what the angle is and a reading for splitting it at the same time.

This is the Sliding bevel I use..http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=32593&cat=1,42936,50298,43508&ap=1

And the angle finder....http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=49716&cat=1,42936,50298&ap=1

 

[duburban]

can you explain how your using the sliding t bevel?

 

[GhostFist]

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/qa/splitting-angles.aspx

 

[duburban]

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/qa/splitting-angles.aspx

nice... thats perfect. i just used parts of this method to make a radius piece of shoe molding to go around a curved stair riser. looking at a corner to practice on right now. thanks

 

[gbruzze1]

I use a Bosch Digital Angle Finder, and usually pre-assemble my outside corners.  All inside corners get coped.  Since investing in an angle finder, Collins spring clamps, and a pin nailer, outside corners have become one of my favorite things to do, especially when the customer is around.

 

[GhostFist]

the bosch angle finder is great and all but in some instances i can see its size being a hindrance

 

[gbruzze1]

the bosch angle finder is great and all but in some instances i can see its size being a hindrance

Thats where the Starrett Angle Finder comes in!

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Besides having the sliding bevel square and the Bosch miter finder, I also have different size Wixey digital angle gauges for normal and tight spots.

i'd like to get some information on the approaches you guys use to match inside and outside angles when running interior trim. i work with a few guys and have seen how they do it and it usually includes a few trips to the saw.

for example, baseboard outside corner. lets assume the floor isn't flat or square to the corner giving us a compound cut. this is where i want to do better as the top of my cuts are always tight but getting the entire joint perfect is very difficult without running to the saw 10 times.

my first step would be to take the milled stock and run it past the outside corner, mark the back side and cut a 45 angle on that line. i'm already at a disadvantage because most saws don't cut past 45 if you have to cut on the flat.

i do not own an angle finder. i am starting to feel that buying an angle finder digital or otherwise will be the answer to nailing the angle on the first cut.

tips for mating angles would be appreciated. feel free to point me to some required reading aswell, is this in katz's books?

I would definitely suggest buying or renting Gary's DVD's on trim carpentry.  You'll have a better grasp seeing it done compared to us writing about it.

 

[waho6o9]

Practice on some scrap.  Make a hinged partition, with a plywood top for crown if needed, set at different angles and start cutting scrap.
I did that, and it was fun using the starrett angle finders.  Make some saw dust!  [big grin]